Misha the Beast Tamer.

I carried the girl in my arms, all the way back to town. We tried talking to her, but she remained silent and clung to my neck as if she was afraid she'd lose me. It was difficult carrying a toddler, but I refused the offers of help given to me by Todd and Erik.

"So do you remember what house she was taken from Princess? Aqila?" Erik questioned.

"We only know the road and what group of buildings where we last saw the Ogre." We don't exactly know what house she's from, Erik." I answered

Erik sighed,

"Well, we may have to take her to the town guard's. They might have had a mother approach them about her missing toddler, care to join me Princess? Aqila, Todd you can return to the inn and we'll meet you there."

"Sir, I would like to accompany you and Princess Misha to the guards quarters, sir." Aqila piped up, again keeping her promise to not let me be by myself with Erik.

Erik rolled his eyes, sighed and motioned for Aqila to join us.

"Thank you, Erik." Aqila said as she joined pace with me.

As we walked along together,

"Girl's, we need to make up a story of how we managed to find this toddler. We cannot tell them that she was taken by an Ogre. Not everyone is aware of their existence or they refuse to believe that those creatures from fairy tales told to them as children roam the earth. The only story that would be acceptable and raise no questions, is that we found her wandering and we took her straight to them as soon as we found her. Can you agree on this?"

"Yes." Aqila and I said in unison.

Once we arrived to the guards quarters, Erik did most of the talking. As expected, they didn't ask any questions and told us that there had been a woman earlier in the night looking for her child. They offered to take her to her parent's. Erik convinced them to take me with them as the child seemed to like me. They agreed.

They led me straight to the road and buildings where I saw the Ogre. It was confirmed that this was the missing child when the mother yelled out her name in an excited and relieved tone, remnants of tears on her cheek

"Mary. Come to me darling, I've missed you."

As soon as her name was called she jumped out of my arms and rushed straight into her mother's. I was satisfied. The mother thanked me profusely, she offered me a gift. I refused, they were already struggling and me accepting the gift would be cruel. Knowing that the child was with her mother unharmed and safe was enough of a gift for me.

I waved farewell and tiredly made my way back to the inn. I didn't realise how drained I was, until I crawled underneath the covers and fell asleep. Knowing that a life was saved tonight was a weight off my shoulders.

We all left early the following morning, Erik, Aqila and I would be going straight back to the academy. We stopped at Todd's and grabbed our things before leaving. I was slightly relieved to see the cabin and the lonely figure of Todd fading into the distance as we continued forward.

It was lunchtime as we approached the academy.

Classes for Aqila and I would restart tomorrow. The rest of the day was dedicated to catch up. We both sighed as once again we returned to our desks with a pile of work that would keep us up throughout the night.

It was another four weeks later that I got my first chance to see a supernatural being in the flesh within the grounds of the academy.

We were taken as a group out of the classroom, through the halls, out of the building and across the grounds.

We were led to a part of the academy that was out of bounds for students and quite a distance from the main building, including the dormitories and classrooms.

The teacher led us to a heavy metal gate, embedded in a high stone wall. Spikes fashioned from Iron stood proudly from the top. The building reminded me of a well protected castle. I begged to question if the walls were there to keep us (the students) out or something much worse lurked behind these high thick walls that needed to be kept in.

"Gather 'round students. This is where we keep and study our most rare and sometimes dangerous beasts and supernatural's.

As you know, the academy is surrounded by a sanctuary of natural landscapes where numerous beasts wander, protected from the outside world by a mixture of magic and physical barriers such as walls and fences. This building behind me is surrounded by a magical barrier and the very high, spiky, and thick fence. Guards patrol the inner building and its surrounds. So, follow me."

The teacher unlocked the gate with a clank and opened it. The screeching hinges pierced the silence. We were brimming with excitement, today we would be meeting rare and dangerous supernaturals/beasts.

We were led through a second fence with another heavy door . We finally arrived at the main entrance to the building. A pair of guards greeted us and nodded giving us permission to enter.

We walked through a hallway, the walls were made from stone. No paintings adorned the walls, they were cold, bare, and sterile. We were then led down some steps, that wound their way downward to a dark abyss. We couldn't see what waited below us. The stairs seemed to continuously go around in circles, it seemed like forever before we reached the bottom.

The stairs led to yet another hallway, exactly like the other one. However, water leaked through some of the stone, and moss grew upon the damp rocks.

We entered through another heavy door, but to my surprise it led to a large room. The roof was higher than you'd expect. The room looked like a place a circus or theater show would be played with centre ring and all. Chairs and desks surrounded the ring.

"Children, this is the studyroom. We put beasts/supernaturals in the centre, while Tamers, hunters, doctor's, and scholars observe them. They'd study its appearance, draw it, observe its mannerisms. All this was purely for educational purposes.

Many intelligent men and women have sat where you sit, some were cynics, others were of science and found these beasts and supernatural beings nothing more than impossible anomalies of humanity and nature. They all left this room believers.

Before, I fetch the supernatural I need to know how many of you are virgins? You're all different ages, so I have to ask. I ask this because the supernatural you are about to observe loves the blood of virgins. So if you are, you need to stay where you are. While those who are not, please come to the centre of the ring."

I remained seated, Aqila got up. I was shocked, I didn't expect her to be able to go to the ring. There were a few other classmates that also remained seated. I was disappointed that I was left to observe the beast from a distance, while the other's got a close up view.

"Good, if you are lying you're endangering yourself. If you are a virgin and standing here in the ring, I will give you one more chance to sit back down, before I fetch our supernatural. Are we clear?"

"Yes, ma'am." they said in unison. The teacher turned and went through a large wooden, double door. We waited in anticipation, the tension grew in the room with every minute that passed.

We didn't have to wait too much longer when the doors creaked open. The teacher was with 3 men, two were guards and the third was bound in chains, being dragged between them, his clothes torn. I couldn't see his face as he was looking down, not making the slightest effort to look at us. I was confused, the person in chains was human, not beast and it looked as though he was in excruciating pain.

"Well children this is your beast. Can anyone tell me what species this beast is?"

"Shape-shifter?" A student piped up

"No, that's incorrect. Anyone else?"

"White wolf warrior?"

"Incubus"

"Demon."

Three students piped up one after the other.

"No, you're all wrong. One more chance"

The teacher said, slightly annoyed at the daftness of her students.

There was silence, I knew the answer. I waited for someone else to provide the right answer, no-one did. I took a deep breath and raised my hand. The teacher saw me and flashed me an encouraging smile.

"Yes, Princess. Do you know the answer?"

The man in chains suddenly looked up and straight at me. I gasped at his beautiful golden/yellow eyes. My face warmed as I struggled to bring myself to answer.

"H-h-e is a vampire ma'am." I stuttered

The teacher clapped her hands as she now had hope that not all her students were as daft as she thought.

"Yes, you're right Princess. This beast is a vampire, in fact he is over 500 years old. He goes by the name of Emrick.

Now, before I continue with Emrick's history. I wish to tell you a few things about vampires. They were once humans and as a result they keep the human appearance, but they no longer possess their human souls.

They cannot survive without blood, if they don't drink blood they become weak and starve. Some drink the blood of animal's, other's drink human blood. Now if the human they are feeding from is a virgin the blood gives them a rush, they get a some kind of high and sexually aroused by it. Hence, why virgins were not permitted in the ring.

Now, vampires once they are turned will develop a multitude of supernatural powers that will help them hunt their prey.

Some powers are rare, while others are quite common. Princess, tell me what are the common powers they possess once turned?"

I was not expecting to be questioned. I paused, mainly out of shock but managed to reply.

"Some of the common powers they possess can be; superhuman strength, they can run as fast as lightning, they can be masters of seduction and manipulation. Especially, if they were attractive before they were turned.

Ummm, they can hypnotise you to do what they want, some use this to drink from humans without permission and other's use it to get the human do as they command."

After I answered, I looked directly at Emrick. His beautiful eyes pierced through me. He did not speak, he just stared.

"Very good Princess. Since you're on a roll, tell me three powers that a vampire can possess that are considered uncommon or rare."

"Some examples of rare or uncommon powers are mind reading, flying, and seeing into the future." I answered, hoping I was correct.

"Spot on Princess. As a reward, after today's class you can interview him. You will have to talk to him through the prison door, of course, as you are a virgin and are in more danger than your classmates in the ring."

I sat back, excited. How amazing it would be to not only meet a real vampire but talk to one too.

After this I noticed Emrick resume staring at the ground. He was no longer interested in me. Maybe because he'd see me later on in the day.